Greenland 08 UPDATES
update 7 - 2 aug 2008
The Nuussuaq seems a long way away now. I've traveled all the way back to the US and exchanged some equipment now I'm heading back to the Arctic but working on the the Akademik Ioffe in the Canadian Nunavut province. I've selected some images which show some of the beauty and diversity of the Nuussuaq and I hope you enjoy them. I'll be working on a short movie over the next few months. more... update 6 - 25 jul 2008
Well I'm back in Ilulissat finally after many trials and tribulations trying to get out of Uummannaq. more... update 5 - 22 jul 2008
I've poked and prodded a lot of places around here now. I've explored the walls in a range of locations. I climbed 60ft up the most likely looking line on the eastern side of Uummannaq, it is obviously possible but there were many large detached blocks and flakes and climbing alone and self belaying was just asking to snag my trail loops and pull too much stuff off. more... update 4 - 18 jul 2008
I rolled into town today after a late start. I've been paddling into pesky breezes and currents since rounding the Peninsula. I saw loads of Fin whales on my way into uummannaq and they are all arriving in numbers following a small fish called Capelin. The odometer stopped at just over 400km in 9 days. more... update 3 - 14 jul 2008
I arrived at a lovely little hunting village this morning of my 7th day out. Niaqornat is home to about 65 people and they are hunters for seal and whales. I've been doing a lot of paddling over the last 7 days and have covered 330km. Most days I'm in the boat for 7-8 hours and manage around 40-45km. I did put in a big session (remember it never gets dark) and hauled in some 90km for 16 hours worth of effort. more... update 2 - 8 jul 2008
Can't find a boat or any way to get closer to Uummannaq so just gonna do it myself. Off paddling today 330km or so I better get my skates on! I hope the weather stays good. I realise now how BIG our glass boats were. Can't fit all the stuff I need onboard so am having to leave some of it behind - like the computer. Will take the BGAN sat phone for phone/emergency use only - so I won't be able to do web updates unless I phone something in. Usually I email them back to NZ. The paddle will take at least 6 days with weather, motivation and all things going well. Will be in touch when i can. Graham Charles update 1 - 4 jul 2008
 Getting to Greenland is not cheap, well in particular, getting excess baggage to Greenland is even more ‘not cheap’. I arrived at Copenhagen airport and surfed near to front of the huge queue when I spied my good friend Rodrigo Jordan and his climbing team from Chile. There was some perverse satisfaction that someone else had more gear than me and was going to have to pay much more than me! The unlucky check-in guy was fairly well brow-beaten by the time I stepped up and the ‘carry-on bag check lady’ had zeroed in on five expeditioners who were all trying to carry on 20kg in back packs. It was like lambs to the slaughter as piece by piece we had to empty our packs onto the scales. The cash register was spinning faster than a George Bush media team. Eventually we were all settled up and a few thousand kroner less happy and we settled in for the flight. more... |
